So, after an incredible year of baseball playoffs where we've seen 33 of a possible 36 games played through the first three rounds, we arrive at a World Series between the Tigers and the Giants. Who could've predicted that it would be these two teams? Oh, wait. That's right. I did a month ago. Although, I certainly didn't see the way they both arrived at the Fall Classic coming.
We've got an old-school World Series between two teams that, despite their storied histories, have never faced off in the Fall Classic. (They've played just four series in Interleague Play.) And while some critics might argue that these aren't the best two teams in baseball, they have been the two best over the past few weeks. They both deserve to be here. The Tigers' 88 wins, only the seventh-most in the American League, are irrelevant. Nobody can tell me they didn't think Detroit had all the makings of a World Series team. And San Francisco was my preseason NL pennant winner, so you know where I stand on the Giants.
What the Giants have done has been simply amazing. How do you end up in a situation where you have to play six elimination games in one playoff year, let alone winning them all?! One of the reasons I was so confident in San Francisco is because of that balanced offense, but it was the pitching more than anything that got them by the Cardinals. Starting with Barry Zito's Game 5 shutout, San Francisco outscored St. Louis 20-1 over the final three games of the NLCS. If the Giants' offense can get going and the rotation stays sharp, I like San Francisco's chances to win a second World Series in three years.
Pitching has also been the Tigers' main weapon this postseason. Sure, the Yankee offense was anemic during the ALCS, but Detroit pitching had as much to do with that as anything else. The Tigers have the best pitcher in the game, a tremendous playoff pitcher in Doug Fister, and Max Scherzer, who ranked only behind Verlander in strikeouts this season. It also seems like they figured out the bullpen. Phil Coke closing worked against the Yankees, and I wouldn't be surprised to see him in that spot again in the World Series. And we know they're gonna hit.
The Tigers had an incredible amount of time off before the 2006 World Series, and proceeded to not play very well against St. Louis. Will a similar layoff hurt Detroit again this time? I don't think so. The break may quiet the bats a little bit, but it also gave them a chance to line up their pitching. Verlander will be pitching Game 1 on a week of rest, and you know he's gotta be eager to atone for his performance in the All-Star Game, which resulted in the Tigers starting this series on the road, as well as 2006, when he went 0-2, including a loss in the clinching Game 5.
Speaking of the All-Star Game, the last time the winning and losing pitchers in the All-Star Game's teams ended up meeting in that year's World Series wasn't that long ago. It was 2008, when the Rays' Scott Kazmir and the Phillies' Brad Lidge got the decision in that 15-inning classic at the Old Yankee Stadium. The last time both All-Star Game starters ended up in the World Series was 2001, when Roger Clemens (Yankees) and Randy Johnson (Diamondbacks) started the Midsummer Classic in Seattle.
But the Giants had to use their ace, All-Star Game starter and winner Matt Cain in Game 7 of the NLCS, which means he won't be available until Game 4. And the Giants' second-best pitcher Ryan Vogelsong won't go until Game 3. So, if this series goes seven games, it'll be either Cain on three-days' rest or Vogelsong. That's where I think Detroit has a major advantage. Even if the series only goes five, Verlander is guaranteed to go twice. And he'd likely be available out of the bullpen in a potential Game 7, as well.
Bullpen-wise, we all know the Tigers have had some problems. That's where Detroit has been the weakest during the playoffs. But that's mainly because of two culprits--Jose Valverde and Joaquin Benoit. It'll be interesting to see how Jim Leyland handles his bullpen in the World Series. The Giants' bullpen has been tremendous, though. And it's only bolstered by the fact that Tim Lincecum has sucked enough as a starter that he's the long reliever. The other freak of nature on that team is left to act weird in the dugout, but his replacement, Sergio Romo, has been lights-out. And the Giants have three lefties, which means Prince Fielder's at-bats against right-handers in the World Series will be limited to Matt Cain and Ryan Vogelsong. If this becomes a battle of the bullpens (which I don't think it will), it's advantage Giants.
Don't worry, I'm not forgetting about the lineups. Both teams have the likely MVP anchoring a potent offense. Outside of NLCS MVP Marco Scutaro and Pablo Sandoval, who's nothing like the player who was benched during the World Series two years ago, the Giants didn't really hit at all during the NLCS. That includes Buster Posey, the NL batting champion. If Posey, Hunter Pence and Angel Pagan get going, look out. The Giants also aren't at that much of a disadvantage when the series shifts to Detroit. They can simply plug Aubrey Huff into that DH spot.
Detroit losing the DH in San Francisco could be interesting, though. With Victor Martinez injured, ALCS MVP Delmon Young has DHed most of the year. But they'll have to stick him in left field for Games 1 and 2, and since it'll be two lefties (Zito and Bumgarner) going for the Giants, that means Avisail Garcia will probably start in right and Andy Dirks will end up on the bench. Dirks is a better hitter than Garcia and, obviously, a much better fielder than Young, so Detroit's going to be hurt both offensively and defensively by not having the DH. It's something they have to do, though, because that lineup is ultra-scary with Young in it and nowhere near as intimidating without him.
So, how do I see this World Series playing out? I don't think either pitching staff will be as dominant as it was in the LCS. However, I think Detroit's extra time off in this crazy ultra-condensed playoff year will give the Tigers a slight advantage. They've got the better lineup and the benefit of two Justin Verlander starts. There isn't much separating these teams. It'll be the little things that win this series. Even though the Giants don't seem capable of losing, especially once their backs are against the wall, the Tigers have been the best team in baseball over the last six weeks. I see Detroit getting those little things done and winning its first World Series title since 1984. I'll say Tigers in six.
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